How much does it cost to run a well pump?
A well pump costs about 25¢ per hour, 25¢ a day, $7.67 a month and $92 a year at typical use (1 hour a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 3/4 hp submersible well pump draws about 1,200-1,500 W; a household using 300 gallons a day at 8-10 gpm runs it about 30-60 minutes a day, or roughly 400-700 kWh a year.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 hp | 1,000 | 18¢ | 18¢ | $5.48 | $66 |
| 3/4 hp | 1,400 | 25¢ | 25¢ | $7.67 | $92 |
| 1 hp | 1,900 | 34¢ | 34¢ | $10.40 | $125 |
| 1.5 hp | 2,500 | 45¢ | 45¢ | $13.69 | $164 |
At 1 hour a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 1.40 | 25¢ | $7.67 | $92 |
| 2 hours | 2.80 | 50¢ | $15.33 | $184 |
| 4 hours | 5.60 | $1.01 | $30.66 | $368 |
| 8 hours | 11.20 | $2.01 | $61.33 | $736 |
| 12 hours | 16.80 | $3.02 | $91.99 | $1,104 |
| 24 hours | 33.60 | $6.04 | $184 | $2,208 |
Cost to run a well pump in every state
The same well pump costs $63 a year in North Dakota and $222 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 17¢ | $5.25 | $63 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 18¢ | $5.39 | $65 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 18¢ | $5.48 | $66 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 18¢ | $5.54 | $66 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 19¢ | $5.68 | $68 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 19¢ | $5.69 | $68 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 19¢ | $5.72 | $69 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 19¢ | $5.78 | $69 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 19¢ | $5.84 | $70 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 19¢ | $5.90 | $71 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 19¢ | $5.93 | $71 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 20¢ | $5.94 | $71 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 20¢ | $5.97 | $72 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 20¢ | $6.02 | $72 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 20¢ | $6.02 | $72 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 20¢ | $6.05 | $73 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 21¢ | $6.29 | $76 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 21¢ | $6.29 | $76 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 21¢ | $6.43 | $77 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 21¢ | $6.44 | $77 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 21¢ | $6.53 | $78 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 22¢ | $6.56 | $79 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 22¢ | $6.56 | $79 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 22¢ | $6.60 | $79 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 22¢ | $6.60 | $79 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 22¢ | $6.66 | $80 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 22¢ | $6.80 | $82 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 23¢ | $6.91 | $83 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 23¢ | $7.01 | $84 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 23¢ | $7.02 | $84 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 23¢ | $7.07 | $85 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 24¢ | $7.22 | $87 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 25¢ | $7.58 | $91 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 26¢ | $7.78 | $93 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 26¢ | $7.99 | $96 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 26¢ | $8.01 | $96 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 29¢ | $8.82 | $106 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 29¢ | $8.96 | $108 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 29¢ | $8.97 | $108 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 33¢ | $10.13 | $122 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 33¢ | $10.14 | $122 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 34¢ | $10.31 | $124 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 37¢ | $11.36 | $136 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 38¢ | $11.44 | $137 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 39¢ | $11.93 | $143 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 40¢ | $12.10 | $145 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 41¢ | $12.47 | $150 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 41¢ | $12.49 | $150 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 43¢ | $12.97 | $156 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 46¢ | $14.06 | $169 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 61¢ | $18.54 | $222 |
How to cut the cost
- Fix running toilets and dripping taps; a leaking toilet can add 200 gallons a day of pumping.
- Use a larger pressure tank to cut short-cycling starts, which draw 3-5x running current.
- Water gardens with rain barrels instead of the well.
- Check pressure switch settings (typically 40/60 psi); higher settings increase run time.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Fewer, longer pump cycles reduce start-up energy and wear.
See options on AmazonSupplies garden water without running the well pump.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Well pump | 1,400 | 1 hour a day | $7.67 | $92 |
| Sump pump | 800 | 18 minutes a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Septic aerator | 80 | 24 hours a day | $10.51 | $126 |
| Water softener | 4 | 24 hours a day | $0.53 | $6 |
| Water pressure booster pump | 700 | 45 minutes a day | $2.87 | $34 |
| Sewage ejector pump | 1,000 | 15 minutes a day | $1.37 | $16 |
| Garage door opener | 450 | 2 minutes a day | $0.60 | $7 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a well pump per hour?
A well pump drawing 1,400 watts uses 1.40 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 25¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 17¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 61¢.
How much does it cost to run a well pump per month?
At typical use (1 hour a day), a well pump costs about $7.67 a month and $92 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a well pump use?
Most well pumps use 800 to 2,500 watts, depending on the setting (1/2 hp 1,000 W, 3/4 hp 1,400 W, 1 hp 1,900 W, 1.5 hp 2,500 W). Starting surge can reach 4,000 W. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a well pump use?
About 1.40 kWh a day and 511 kWh a year at typical use (1 hour a day).
Does a well pump use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 511 kWh a year is about 5% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run a well pump or a sump pump?
At typical use, a well pump costs about $92 a year versus $16 for a sump pump. So the sump pump is cheaper by about $76 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a well pump?
- Fix running toilets and dripping taps; a leaking toilet can add 200 gallons a day of pumping.
- Use a larger pressure tank to cut short-cycling starts, which draw 3-5x running current.
- Water gardens with rain barrels instead of the well.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.